Mexico city: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared that Mexico "is not and will not be a colony or protectorate" of any foreign country, responding to a map shared by US President Donald Trump on social media, which depicted Mexican territory under the US flag.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sheinbaum made this statement during a post on the social media platform X, reiterating Mexico's status as a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Trump had posted an image on his Truth Social platform showing the US, Mexico, and Canada draped in the US flag's colors and stripes, without providing any explanation for the depiction.

Sheinbaum's remarks came amidst escalating tensions between Mexico and the US, particularly concerning issues such as security, trade, and migration. The Mexican president has consistently emphasized national sovereignty in response to actions and statements from the Trump administration, while also expressing her government's desire to maintain a cooperative relationship with Washington.

This incident followed Trump's promotion of a proposal to rename the US state of New Mexico to "New America," featuring an image with "Mexico" crossed out and replaced with "America." Trump has also previously advocated for renaming geographic features, including referring to the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America."

The map shared by Trump did not include any formal announcement of a US territorial claim over Mexico. Despite the diplomatic tensions, Mexico and the US share a 3,145-kilometer (1,954-mile) border and maintain extensive economic ties, being key partners in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which governs much of their trade.

Sheinbaum continues to defend Mexico's independence while managing relations with Trump, whose administration has pushed Mexico to intensify efforts against drug trafficking and irregular migration. The Mexican government insists that bilateral cooperation must be founded on mutual respect and the acknowledgment of each country's sovereignty.